Mr Turner said that while he was “respectful” of the result and would work with Mr Corbyn, “the criticism I had does not disappear”.

He said: “If we are to be a serious party of opposition then Jeremy Corbyn must do more to bring the party together as well as winning over the support of the country.”

Mr Turner called on the party to back Mr Corbyn warning, “divided parties are punished at the ballot box” and said talk of Labour splitting was “for the birds”.

However he also demanded an end to calls for MPs who have criticised Mr Corbyn to be deselected which he described as “divisive”.

Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher, who was sacked by Mr Corbyn from his role as shadow culture secretary earlier this year, wrote on Twitter: “Everyone in Labour must now focus on the issues that matter to our communities & to the country.

Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn, who was sacked as shadow foreign secretary by Mr Corbyn after expressing doubts over his leadership, simply wrote: “Time for unity”.

Former party leader Ed Miliband, the Doncaster North MP, said: “Congratulations to Jeremy on his victory and commiserations to Owen. Now is the time for the party to unite and to focus on the country.”

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain wrote: “Party must now rally around him & let’s take the fight back to this divisive Tory govt”.